I called the owner of the property from which the logs were dumped on the 15th of April.
As suspected, the logs, cut and dumped on Deerwood property two years ago (news), were contracted to be removed by a third party contractor at that time. Assuming this was the case, the contractor failed to complete the job he was paid to do. The logs were dumped on Deerwood without permission, or the owner's knowledge. Two years have passed since the dumping occured.
A return phone call from the lot owner informs me that attempts to contact the original contractor, as a result of my investigation, has so far failed.
As the pine logs are dangerously piled on Deerwood property all incidents related to the logs involve potential Deerwood liability. It is a public safety issue.
As Deerwood forest manager I must now remove the log hazard in the interest of public safety and to mitigate Deerwood property owner liability.
More to follow....
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
FMO - Foundation Rebar Installation
I've mounted a jet engine on The Foreman!
Enjoying a granite milkshake, or blowing dust from the hole.
The Shadow wields a really scary epoxy gun.
The pins are in, babe.I'm heading over to a buddy's place for a few days to roof his cottage. I've promised myself a 'one beer an hour' limit while working on the roof. Just kidding, folks. Drinking beer while working on a 12/12 pitch roof is just wrong.
Aloha.
The Pine Logs Issue 1
In my forestry management practice, I'm occasionally called upon to deal with neighbour issues as my client's agent.
Today I visited the northwest corner boundary of The Deerwood Estate - an isolated section of land to check up on 'the pine logs issue' and plan for future maintanence of the area.
Background: The owner of a cozy undeveloped lot beside The Deerwood Estate has cleared a section of trees and earth with the intention (I assume) of building a cottage or house. I also assume, as township documents show the owner resident of a large southern Ontario city, that the land clearing work was done by a contractor. I first noticed a large pile of wide diameter pine tree logs on Deerwood Estate property during a visit in the Autumn of 2008.
I discovered The Pine Logs Issue on September 29, 2008.
The pine logs are still there on April 14th, 2009.
View of logs looking onto Deerwood property on April 14, 2009.
Now look at a photograph from inside Deerwood. Notice the small Deerwood tree being bent backward by the awkward pile of logs threatening to both destroy the tree and other trees beyond it. This small tree is the only thing stopping the logs from rolling out of control.
View of logs from within Deerwood property on April 14, 2009.
Make no mistake - this is a serious issue.
Children live nearby, I've spoken to them walking in the area. Imagine the temptation of such a pile of logs. I'd say odds are pretty good that some children climb on top this dangerous pile of the logs. Just one of those logs could crush and kill.
I assume that whoever was overseeing the neighbour's construction 'just didn't think' about the consequences of leaving a dangerous pile of logs on someone else's property for over six months near a residential area and snowmobile trail.
My next step is to contact the owner (with the mailing information the township has provided) and inform him of an issue of which he may not even be aware. I will not work in this area until the issue is resolved.
I'll keep you posted on the developments, folks.
Today I visited the northwest corner boundary of The Deerwood Estate - an isolated section of land to check up on 'the pine logs issue' and plan for future maintanence of the area.
Background: The owner of a cozy undeveloped lot beside The Deerwood Estate has cleared a section of trees and earth with the intention (I assume) of building a cottage or house. I also assume, as township documents show the owner resident of a large southern Ontario city, that the land clearing work was done by a contractor. I first noticed a large pile of wide diameter pine tree logs on Deerwood Estate property during a visit in the Autumn of 2008.
I discovered The Pine Logs Issue on September 29, 2008.The pine logs are still there on April 14th, 2009.
View of logs looking onto Deerwood property on April 14, 2009.Now look at a photograph from inside Deerwood. Notice the small Deerwood tree being bent backward by the awkward pile of logs threatening to both destroy the tree and other trees beyond it. This small tree is the only thing stopping the logs from rolling out of control.
View of logs from within Deerwood property on April 14, 2009.Children live nearby, I've spoken to them walking in the area. Imagine the temptation of such a pile of logs. I'd say odds are pretty good that some children climb on top this dangerous pile of the logs. Just one of those logs could crush and kill.
I assume that whoever was overseeing the neighbour's construction 'just didn't think' about the consequences of leaving a dangerous pile of logs on someone else's property for over six months near a residential area and snowmobile trail.
I'll keep you posted on the developments, folks.
'Deerwood'
We've decided to call mom's forest 'Deerwood'.'Deerwood' is a perfect name. Mom feeds the forest deer religiously. Some sort of, oh...mythic journey thing I suppose.
This is a convenient name for me to use when I discuss my sustainable forest management practice with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), forest consultants, or people I'm trying to impress. Oh, and I'm gonna start calling it an estate. Yeah, that's good. Snob factor. That'll work.
Though - just a warning to any trespassers or hunters - I prowl the The Deerwood Estate with a silenced chainsaw in one hand and a used toilet brush in the other.
The Pickaxe
When it comes to removing rocks from trails, The Pickaxe, is a beauty.The problem is, once you've got the rock out, you've got to fill the hole in.
If only I had something about the same size to fill it back in.Like a rock.
The Pulaski
After cutting down trail saplings with the bush cutter, I had the opportunity to clear out the stumps on the Office Trail to eliminate trail trip and wheel puncture hazards.
The Pulaski is standard issue for the US Forestry Service. A multifunctional tool with an axe head on one end and a mattock on the other. They're used in trail maintenance (and creation), as well as in forest fire fighting.
From the Wiki...
The invention of the pulaski is widely credited to Ed Pulaski, a ranger with the United States Forest Service, in 1911, although a similar tool was first introduced in 1876 by the Collins Tool Company. Ed Pulaski was famous for taking action to save the lives of a crew of 45 firefighters during the disastrous August 1910 wildfires in Idaho. His invention (or reinvention) of the tool that bears his name may have been a direct result of the disaster, as he saw the need for better firefighting tools. The pulaski came into wide use by the Forest Service after 1913, and in 1920 the Forest Service began contracting for the tool to be commercially manufactured.
And here's a picture of my Barco brand Pulaski in it's element.
The Pulaski is standard issue for the US Forestry Service. A multifunctional tool with an axe head on one end and a mattock on the other. They're used in trail maintenance (and creation), as well as in forest fire fighting.
From the Wiki...The invention of the pulaski is widely credited to Ed Pulaski, a ranger with the United States Forest Service, in 1911, although a similar tool was first introduced in 1876 by the Collins Tool Company. Ed Pulaski was famous for taking action to save the lives of a crew of 45 firefighters during the disastrous August 1910 wildfires in Idaho. His invention (or reinvention) of the tool that bears his name may have been a direct result of the disaster, as he saw the need for better firefighting tools. The pulaski came into wide use by the Forest Service after 1913, and in 1920 the Forest Service began contracting for the tool to be commercially manufactured.
And here's a picture of my Barco brand Pulaski in it's element.
Trail Marking Complete!
Forgot to mention that I completed the trail marking (approx. 2 km) on April 12th (Sunday) at 3:15 pm.Quite proud of that accomplishment, actually. Thanks to the low temperatures, below 0 degrees Celsius, I was able to turn to trail marking (instead of pouring concrete) after I'd learned the basics when marking the Office Trail.
Took yesterday off to build the blog and did something else....I can't remember.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Moss On Tree
Came across this rather interesting example of moss on the base of a tree. Looks like the tree has grown on top of big rock.
The tree is located near the south end of Trunk Trail.
ShnewPack!!!
In this mid-April of my hard labour, there's still up to two feet of snow - and just a bit of water - in the northern hemlock compartment. That means the dreaded snowshoes, folks. So, I've developed a new recreational accessory for all you ka-razy Japanese schoolgirl wannabies - ShnewPack!
'When you ain't shoein - ShnewPack em!'
ShnewPack!!!Clearcut to Bush
One of the major elements of this forest management program is...the design and clearing of forest trails in the current unmanaged bush forest.
It's currently a bushy forest because, as I understand it, the whole surround was clear cut in the 1950s of most accessible trees. Logging first came to the Parry Sound area in the mid-nineteenth century. As a result of clear-cutting, there's an eventual race for each tree seedling to compete for sunlight that distorts the natural forest tree structure (excepting fire damage) and the wildlife depending on it.
Anyway, the trees racing for the sun, overtopping others less tolerant of shade, create a thick jungle of vegetation on the forest floor making it often difficult to traverse. I think I'd rather cut a path through the Amazon jungle.
So, while I wait for the the temperatures to warm for curing concrete - and some snow to melt - I busy myself with blazing (marking) a network of forest trails for moving through the forest. When the trails are finally cut, cleared and maintained, a selective improvement cut will begin to rebalance the structure of the forest and improve the health and sustainability of all inhabitants.
This is the beginning of 10 years work.
It's currently a bushy forest because, as I understand it, the whole surround was clear cut in the 1950s of most accessible trees. Logging first came to the Parry Sound area in the mid-nineteenth century. As a result of clear-cutting, there's an eventual race for each tree seedling to compete for sunlight that distorts the natural forest tree structure (excepting fire damage) and the wildlife depending on it.
Anyway, the trees racing for the sun, overtopping others less tolerant of shade, create a thick jungle of vegetation on the forest floor making it often difficult to traverse. I think I'd rather cut a path through the Amazon jungle.
So, while I wait for the the temperatures to warm for curing concrete - and some snow to melt - I busy myself with blazing (marking) a network of forest trails for moving through the forest. When the trails are finally cut, cleared and maintained, a selective improvement cut will begin to rebalance the structure of the forest and improve the health and sustainability of all inhabitants.
This is the beginning of 10 years work.
Back, Bobo, Back.
Back on the trail again as I haul the generator and rotary drill back up and out of the forest.
A photo of yours truly at the end of the line.
Made it....
A photo of yours truly at the end of the line.
Made it....Driller Killer
The day before I surveyed the office foundation rock. Using orange spray paint and a straight edge of plywood, I marked out the rough exterior boundary of the office walls.Then I located the six concrete pier locations on which the office will be built. In order to preserve as much rock moss as possible, I used a section of construction tube to outline a circle cut, and dig out the organic material where the pier would be set.
Then I spray painted the interior of the pier tube jig to indicate pier placement in order to drill into the granite four holes per pier for rebar metal pin attachment. The rebar will make the concrete pier stronger and help connect it to the stone base.Within an hour all the holes are drilled and ready to have the rebar rods epoxied in the granite.
Made It To The Office!
The last section of the office trail was tough haulin' with the rope around my waist and digging forward at a 45 degree angle. Then I took a 5 minute break.
Here's a photo of the barrow sled holding the generator and rotary drill on top of the forest management office foundation rock.
Here's a photo of the barrow sled holding the generator and rotary drill on top of the forest management office foundation rock.
Haulin' Gear
Remember the generator and the rotary drill Karen and David lent me? Now it was time to get them to the office building site using the trail I'd just cleared.So, I disassembled a wheelbarrow and used the barrow to strap the generator and drill into. The sheet metal barrow served as a protective sled for the tools which I towed with the help of two C-clamps and nylon rope.
At first I thought I could tow it all the way from mom's house, then switched to The Foreman ATV to pull it down the driveway and half the trail distance.
The Foreman
The real workhorse around here is the Honda Foreman ATV. It's 4x4 and quite the powerful utility vehicle.I was amazed it was able to plow through 12 inch deep snow on uneven terrain. There were a bunch of 'tense moments' where I thought I might get stuck or even roll over, but this hardcore ATV got me out every time.
Corduroy Bridges
My quick fix for the soggy sections of trail is to build corduroy bridges.
By corduroy bridges, I mean lengths of tree cut up (6 feet long) and laid down over the wet sections. This will allow me to walk or ATV over the section of trail without getting stuck in the mud or deeply trenching the surface.
Here's two photos of the trail before and after I chainsawed up fallen trees and made a corduroy section over the wet with cut wood.
Before
After
By corduroy bridges, I mean lengths of tree cut up (6 feet long) and laid down over the wet sections. This will allow me to walk or ATV over the section of trail without getting stuck in the mud or deeply trenching the surface.
Here's two photos of the trail before and after I chainsawed up fallen trees and made a corduroy section over the wet with cut wood.
Before
AfterThe Death Machine
With smaller trees cleared using the bushcutter, I enter the office trail the next day with the chainsaw, 2-stroke gas, chain oil, and ATV.
Here's a glamour photo of me and the old school Stihl 08 chainsaw.
Bill and The Death Machine
First built in 1963, the 08 has a 56 cc engine with a .404 pitch chain. I affectionately call it 'The Death Machine' because it's so primitive - and dangerous by today's standards. With solid steel construction it's damn heavy to lug through the bush. But that's not not why it's The Death Machine. It's plain dangerous to run because there's no chain brake for safety's sake and the idler control pretty much requires that the chain is running constantly even when I'm walking from one cut to another.
During this snow storm, there were more than a few times where I fell into waist-deep snow, or tripped over a hidden log with The Death Machine running in both hands.
Maybe it's time to get the other chainsaw tuned-up....
Here's a glamour photo of me and the old school Stihl 08 chainsaw.
Bill and The Death MachineFirst built in 1963, the 08 has a 56 cc engine with a .404 pitch chain. I affectionately call it 'The Death Machine' because it's so primitive - and dangerous by today's standards. With solid steel construction it's damn heavy to lug through the bush. But that's not not why it's The Death Machine. It's plain dangerous to run because there's no chain brake for safety's sake and the idler control pretty much requires that the chain is running constantly even when I'm walking from one cut to another.
During this snow storm, there were more than a few times where I fell into waist-deep snow, or tripped over a hidden log with The Death Machine running in both hands.
Maybe it's time to get the other chainsaw tuned-up....
Trail Clearing
So, into the forest I went to clear an access trail to the forest management office.
As much as I try to keep the trail 'high and dry', the solid granite Canadian Shield which the forest grows on top of rolls like a stone sea with crests and troughs. Meltwater pools in the granite troughs covered by a thin layer soil - and makes for seasonally wet trail sections!
As you can see in this photo.
As much as I try to keep the trail 'high and dry', the solid granite Canadian Shield which the forest grows on top of rolls like a stone sea with crests and troughs. Meltwater pools in the granite troughs covered by a thin layer soil - and makes for seasonally wet trail sections!
As you can see in this photo.
The Bush Cutter
The Stihl KM 130R, has a 2 stroke engine with optional attachment heads. This is my go-to tool for cutting trail trees up to say...three inches thick with the circular saw head.
Who do you call when you need the job done fast and dangerous? The KM 130R....
Stihl KM 130R
It's my night-time home defense back up - just spinning around in the dark with it seems to make the bad things 'go away'.
Who do you call when you need the job done fast and dangerous? The KM 130R....
Stihl KM 130R
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